It's been a week, the crew was slowly recovering from the full-out war between the Straw Hat Pirates, Heart Pirates, and the Kid Pirates. Franky and Usopp were more than occupied with the task of repairing the Sunny. Franky was just thankful the main deck was destroyed rather than anything extremely important to a ship like the mast or keel. If those were destroyed, he'd probably cry himself to death being the Sunny was his pride and joy. You can't even count how many times you apologized for the mess, but Franky was happy none of the less. To him, the Sunny meant nothing, the joy of having his crew alive and well meant more than his pride. Now that really spoke numbers to you.

Meanwhile, Robin and Nami took care of meals, they were happy to do so while Sanji was out of commission. Everyone complained though, nothing compared to Sanji's level of expertise when it came to the art of cooking. Even you would knick pick at the food upon the plate, you realize you've become too accustomed to his cooking, now you'd rather starve than eat their cooking. Of course, Chopper and many of the others would scold you for how little you ate. You didn't even dare to mention that your appetite has diminished with your most recent surgery. Maybe it was a horrible side effect? Let's hope it doesn't lead to any more health problems later on...

Next was Brook, he wasn't much of a help so he was told to go play music all day. It decreased the tension although the toons did greatly annoy some.

Law, he didn't stick around for all that long. The Surgeon had depart the very next morning after the battle between crews concluded. He made sure that Sanji's vital signs were stable enough for Chopper to handle on his own before departing. So Chopper had been preoccupied with getting Sanji back on his feet. Sanji wasn't in any grave danger, thankfully, for he had a dangerous fever that was easily contained, and consumed too much smoke. Ironic being the heavy smoker that he was. His stronger version of Diable Jambe creates much more flame than ever before and inflicts great bodily harm upon his body by leaving burns to the third degree upon his feet and legs. If Sanji can find a resistance to heat, he could use this attack in the future without burning himself nearly to death. Chopper was just lucky Sanji has been using the attack for years now, or else the damage would've been much worse. To the grave worse...

And lastly, Luffy and Zoro. They were happy to take the task of watching over their prisoner. Eustass Kid. The brute hasn't been any trouble, but nobody could trust him enough to leave him in his cage unsupervised. Even in your opinion, you couldn't disagree with that arrangement. Today, however, you were the watchmen. Zoro kept dozing off, Luffy was hungry (no surprise) and very antsy. He'd resort to annoying the hell out of Kid and then things would get ugly real quick. With your devil fruit, you had the strength of two men, so you gave them the break they deserved.

"Morning... Hope you're happy," you sighed watching Kid stir from his slumber. The brute took your voice in as an alarm, staring at you from where he lied.

"Wh-what?" The man grunted, sitting up with support with what was left of his mechanical arm. All that was left was his upper arm, from shoulder to elbow. The rest Sanji melted off during combat. No arms at all must've been difficult in his place for sure.

"Kid, it's me," you snapped your fingers drawing his attention once more than rested up against the bars of his cage Franky had prepared after the fight. His eyes of crimson narrowed, vision clearing up while focusing on you, he still hasn't let the fact that you were there talking to him sink in. Or, even your presence confused him greatly.

"Fuck..." he cursed.

"So you don't remember a thing?" You rested your head up against the bars. Kid thought for a moment, before frowning and shaking his head from side to side. "You came, destroyed the place, but Sanji kicked your ass. Now both of your arms are gone too."

"But why the hell am I locked up in a cage!?" Kid snapped getting to his feet. "That stupid Straw Hat and Green Haired Swordsman wouldn't tell me a thing about what had happened all week. So what? Is that what you're here for?" Kid didn't hesitate to get nasty with you, he had all the rights. Luffy could've told him a few things, but for once he didn't. Which makes everything quite difficult on your end to explain everything.

You sighed once again. "Hope you know, Sanji broke your rib cage with a kick, our Doctor healed you against his better nature but beforehand..." you really hesitated. But Kid has the right to know. "Sanji knocked you into the ocean after the final blow, we told your crew to save you and get lost... They didn't even bother to save you," Kid's features eased up immediately, you could very well tell he was thinking over a ton of things. "Our swordsman Zoro saved your ass, Franky built this cage to keep you under control, and now... now you're our 'problem' until we can turn you in for a bounty reward," Kid was still very much confused.

"Shit..." Kid dropped his head against the bars of the cage. "This really backfired..."

"What backfired?" You asked in disgust. "You ignored your crew, made them fight on your behalf all because you wanted me back in your life! You're lucky to even be alive, I made my crew save you!" Anger clearly overcame your senses. But it felt all so good like cold water was poured over your head on a steamy day, just to explode like you just did.

"This is all a misunderstanding... forget that for now-you made Straw Hat save me?" Kid couldn't believe it.

"I... I did," you huff. Why didn't I let him drown? Normally I wouldn't think twice... But now I'm actually putting others before myself.

"You hate me, so why did you?" Kid asked genuinely. He wanted to know all so badly.

"I've changed Kid," you gaze into his orbs of Crimson. "One man had changed me for the better. So much, I fell for him. He's been there for me since the day we first met, not once had he given up on me even when he should've... Now he's on bed rest because you had to come here and screw everything up!" You clenched your hands, walking circles, keeping your calm to an extent. This side of you wasn't foreign to Kid, he could tell however the anger was eating you up and you were fighting it with everything you had.

"I'll let you in on something," Kid spoke with an eerie calmness to his stature. Your anger fumed once again, the man could've sworn he saw steam escape like puffs of smoke from your ears. "I don't give a shit about getting you back anymore."

"I find that hard to believe," you tut.

"Don't blame you," Kid rested his back against the wall. "You left me, I was pissed, but I didn't let it get to me..." still, nothing sounded right coming from him. "I kept going after you because I had no choice... Government orders," you froze within your spot.

"What?" Now Kid is in with the Government? Is everyone my enemy? I just want everything to stop!

"After you left, the Government sent out the dogs and basically threatened that if I don't capture and return you to them within a specific amount of time that they'd either execute or throw me into Impel Down... I didn't agree at first and got my ass handed to me... Here we are now," you weren't surprised to hear this, but at the same time, you very well were.

"Surprised you didn't take death over this mission... Heck, you were mutinied by your crew and lost another arm."

"Besides the point," Kid growled unable to keep eye contact with you by glancing a little over to your left. "Forget me," he was now full on ignoring you and shoot glares to whoever was behind you. You turned around slowly, nearly jumping out of your skin.

"Sanji!" You exclaimed, he stood with his back leaned up against the wall. His button-up shirt was open, chest bandaged up, and white bandages from the tips of his finger to nearly the base of his shoulders. He smiled in your presence and it warmed you up. "Sanji, when did you get out of bed?"

"Maybe an hour ago," Sanji kicked up from the wall. "The girls were helping me cook, heard you gave Luffy a break and were watching over the prisoner," Kid growled, he disliked his new nickname very much.

"How long were you here?" You shied away, wondering just how much your lover actually heard. Did Sanji hear me go off about how much I like him? I mean he knows that I like him and I know he likes me in return, but if he heard everything I told Kid... I'd die of embarrassment.

"Long enough..." Sanji answered you, and you knew exactly what he meant and wanted to kill yourself right then and there. Sanji's heartwarming grin made you forget that problem anyways. He was a man who cared deeply about you, that's what should matter most. "I came down here to give Kid some food," Sanji snapped back into focus, motioning his bandaged hand to the nearby table was a tray of food that looked appealing to the eye. Your mouth began to water.

"Got no arms," Kid rolled his eyes. "I'd rather starve than be spoon fed," Sanji rolled his eyes as well.

"Then Nami wasn't joking when she said you weren't eating," Sanji disliked that fact very much. "Kid, If you're willing to wear sea prism stone, Franky made you some temporary arms," Sanji informed the brute who took great interest.

"As if I got anything else to lose... bring it."

"Will do," Sanji nods, loosely grabbing you by the wrist. "(Y/n)... I can't express how happy I am to know that I've changed you for the better," your cheeks flared up to Sanji's words. Yup... He heard everything, somebody kill me now... "I might be banged up right now, I don't really care if I am or not because I know you're safe (Y/n). But I really want us to finally make the first step... All that I ask is for you to be mine," Sanji's bandaged hands gently held your own. You couldn't reply back, the shock was so overwhelming that no sounds would dare to leave your throat. Sanji took it upon himself to make the first move, his hands trailed up your arms, shoulders, and neck to gently cup your cheeks. The blonde leaned in with his eyes of sapphire drifting to a close, closing up space between you and him. Your heart pounded against your chest like crazy.

Slap!

Your hand stung, Sanji remained motionless while you left the room at full speed. Kid chuckled loudly at Sanji's misfortune, while he touched his swollen cheek. "Stupid! Even I know better than to do that!" Kid continued to laugh, holding his stomach if only he could.

"And what makes you say that?" Sanji took his hand away from his cheek. Her slap barely hurt at all... Like her first day with us, she slapped me then. (Y/n)'s slap was the equivalent to a punch then. It only shows me just how weak she is now.

"(Y/n) hates being controlled and you almost forced a kiss onto her. Rookie mistake, and she's been traveling with you longer than she ever had with me," Kid couldn't stop laughing, it was getting on Sanji's nerves.

"Well you are her ex," Sanji snickered too. "I thought the kiss was mutual, guess not," Sanji frowned.

"Next time ask to kiss her... Although I myself never dared to," Kid calmed down.

"I will... Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Kid growled. "Although, It's the least I can do... I don't even have a crew to turn to."

"Change," Sanji sighed. "Anyone can change, maybe if you change we'll let you go. And your crew may take you back as well."

"Shut it," Kid turned the opposite way. "They won't... I know that for a fact."

"Kid-"

"Shut it! Go makeup with (Y/n) before she takes everything you did to heart."

“Never took you to be the one to care,” Sanji thought greatly to his surprise. Kid, an infamous sadist telling Sanji how to make up with his woman? Yeah, that won't end well.

“I just want my arms back and a meal…” Kid huffed. “The sooner you two make up the sooner I can eat,” now that Sanji believed. And so, Sanji left the lower levels of the Sunny expecting you to be in the kitchen with everyone else. Oh look, you were exactly where he thought you'd be. Not really, he didn't like where you were sitting for lunch. Between Zoro and Franky at the table…

Sanji knew very well that Zoro had a thing for you, and he won't let this one stupid mistake screw up everything Sanji had worked so hard to acquire. You looked just fine though, as if the near kiss had never happened. Were you ignoring what just happened moments before or was it something so little you've already forgiven him? Sanji hopes its the later.

“Anybody watching Kid?” Usopp asked Sanji as soon as the blonde began dishing up everyone's lunch.

“He has nowhere to go... If he tries anything we'll just kick his ass again. Besides, he's being quite cooperative,” the crew thought Sanji was crazy for thinking such things. Then again, Sanji had full rights to think so.

“But why is he cooperating so well?” Nami in turn asked.

“He doesn't want us to turn him into the government… that's about it,” Sanji continued to dish up lunch while Nami and Robin delivered plates to everyone at the table. You eyed the food, stomach jumping up and down in anticipation for your long awaited meal. But you were distracted, Sanji was clearly holding back on information. He did spend an extra five minutes talking with the prisoner, something was brought up, something Sanji didn't want the others to know.

“What about you?” Zoro nudged you with his elbow.

“What about me?” You questioned back.

“You've been off for a few days, especially now.”

“Did something happen between you and Kid before Sanji went to retrieve you?” Robin automatically assumed it was all Kid. You wanted the Kid subject to just die already. It was all about him, him, him!

“Nothing,” you huffed with aggravation. Everyone now knew you were distressed in some way, ruining what was once a peaceful meal. So, nobody dared to talk, ate in silence, and left one by one without a dare to pronounce a farewell. You were left alone, with Sanji, a plate barely touched at all. Sanji looked at it once and immediately took action.

“What?” Sanji glared at you. “Do you not eat when you're upset?”

“No,” you replied back in astonishment. “I lost my interest in food after the surgery… I was looking forward to eating your food again but my stomach feels like it'll burst after a few bites… To be honest, I feel like I'm gonna barf,” Sanji expected a completely different response than received. You were tearing yourself apart over more than one issue.

“You are recovering,” Sanji took a seat beside you. “Maybe your appetite will come back soon,” you remained silent. Nodding lightly. “I'm starting to like the other (Y/n) better,” Sanji pursed his lips, you gasped at his comment. “Even then you were shy but this is ridiculous.”

“I'm adjusting!” You snapped just as Sanji hoped. “It's so damn hard adjusting…” You changed around your words slumping forward. “Back when I was on my overdrive, I would never over think, like I was living in the moment. Now I can actually settle down and appreciate the little things. Now I've had too much time to think lately that… That I'm confused… Hope you understand,” Sanji smiled softly, exhaling the smoke from his lungs before resting a hand upon your own. Rubbing the backs of your hands with his thumb with care.

“I only said that I liked the older you to get you talking,” Sanji admits with a hint of grief. He unintentionally put you through some mental pain you didn't want to endure. “But I understand (Y/n), slowing down is a difficult road to drive on. I just want to know if I can help you in any way… Most importantly, I should've kept this in mind before kissing you, it's probably something you aren't accustomed to-”

“Yes!” You stammered. “Everything you said… Right on the dot,” you rested your head upon the table. “I would've kissed you but my mind scrambled up and so I freaked out and let my body do the talking… I want to love you… But I don't understand love anymore… Is this normal?” Sanji realized just how tense you were, you were like a child. Learning how the world works once again by trial and error. You don't know right from wrong.

“You're completely normal,” Sanji wrapped his arms around you, your head now rested into his shoulder. “Nobody knows what love means, it's different for everyone. My love for you is making sure you're okay, happy, that's why I put my life on the line fighting Kid. Just to make sure you're safe…”

“I feel the safest… In your arms Sanji.”

*smooch*